Hollywood Park: Game On Dude, Richard’s Kid heading to Del Mar
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The late summer racing schedule for Hollywood Gold Cup winner Game On Dude will not be finalized until next month.
Saturday, Game On Dude won his third stakes of 2012 in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park, holding off stablemate Richard’s Kid to win the race over 1 1/4 miles by 1 1/2 lengths. The win gave trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the Gold Cup exacta.
Sunday, Baffert reiterated his plans for Game On Dude and Richard’s Kid in coming months. Both will be sent to Del Mar next week, where they will resume training.
Game On Dude’s participation in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 depends on how he trains over the track’s Polytrack surface. Last year, Game On Dude finished fourth in the Pacific Classic, losing by 4 1/4 lengths to Acclamation in his only start of the meeting.
Baffert said he was not happy with the way that Game On Dude handled the Polytrack.
“Last year, he didn’t train well,” Baffert said Saturday. “If he trains well, I’ll run him. If not, I’ll freshen him up.”
On Sunday, Baffert said he would consider a stakes at Saratoga for Game On Dude. One such option could be the $750,000 Woodward Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 1.
“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Baffert said of Saratoga.
Game On Dude is owned by Bernie Schiappa, the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Joe Torre. Game on Dude’s win in the Gold Cup gave jockey Chantal Sutherland the distinction of being the first woman rider to win the race in its 73rd running.
“It’s pretty exciting that it got to me,” she said in the winner’s circle.
There is no doubt about plans for Richard’s Kid, who adores Del Mar’s Polytrack. The 7-year-old horse won the Pacific Classic in 2009 and 2010 and was second in the 2009 Cougar II and third in the same race a year later.
In the Gold Cup, Richard’s Kid was sixth in a field of seven to early stretch and closed through the stretch to finish a clear second, 6 1/4 lengths in front of Kettle Corn.